“Just one time?” I heard myself asking.
“Yes. And there have only been two other girls.”
“Heather?”
I nodded.
“It’s only been two for me. Will and Easton.”
My jaw clenched tight, and he looked at me intently.
“Ask me, Rip. Let’s just get this all out there.”
I closed my eyes. “Will you tell me one thing that’s been bugging the hell out of me? Why did you agree to marry him?”
Glancing at my hands, I pulled in a deep breath. “When he asked me, a million memories flashed through my mind. All of them were about you.”
“Me?” he asked, clearly taken aback.
“Yes. When we were little. Our senior prom. That day on the rock when I’m pretty sure we were both about to tell each other how we felt. All the times I longed to hear you tell me you loved me. The times I wanted to tell you but was too afraid. Then I remembered that day I told you I loved you, and I think the anger and hurt from your rejection fueled my answer. I thought if I said yes, I could forget the future I had dreamed about with you and move on with my life. Deep down, I knew I would never marry him. Even moments after he asked me I was crying, but they weren’t the happy tears that he thought they were. They were all for you and for the future I was throwing to the side.
“I didn’t want to leave Oak Springs. My future is here. Working with Daddy on the ranch. Being near family. Being near you. It all meant more to me than Easton. Once I came back, I was too stubborn to admit I had made a mistake. The more Easton talked about our future, the more I knew he wasn’t the one I wanted my future to be with. I think he knew it too, but was pretending it would all be okay once we were hitched and living in the same city. It all hit me the day I was trying on wedding dresses, and I remembered you and me in our tree. I couldn’t pretend anymore that I was happy with Easton.
“We hadn’t been happy for a long time. We hadn’t even slept together in three months or so. His proposal was his last shot at trying to win me over. The crazy thing is, I don’t really think he was surprised when I told him I couldn’t marry him. He tried to fight for it, but I could hear it in his voice. He was always so jealous of you. I knew it was because he saw what everyone else saw. Everyone but the two of us. Or maybe we did see it.”
We looked at each other, and I went on. “I wasn’t just mad at you that night I said yes. I was angry with myself.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because in my heart, I knew that it was supposed to be you asking me. I knew you loved me, and I knew those weeks after you first rejected me you wanted to tell me the truth. I was pissed off and I wouldn’t let you explain. I don’t know, maybe it was my way of trying to punish you for hurting me. Rip, I saw it every time you looked into my eyes. I felt it deep within my soul. We both gave up on each other, and I don’t ever want to do that again.”
He reached for my hand and squeezed it. “If it helps, I wasn’t planning on letting you marry him. I’m sorry I decided to tell you the day Patches died. That was selfish, but the thought of him being there for you, hell, it nearly drove me mad.”
I smiled weakly. “I want to put the past behind us now, Rip. I want this to be about you and me from this moment forward.”
The corners of his mouth rose into that sexy smirk. “I’m glad you feel that way. Now that we got all of that out of the way, let’s head to Wimberley.”
“Wimberley?” I asked with a giggle. “Where in the world is there to camp in Wimberley?”
“Baby, I’m taking you Glamping!”
I wrinkled my nose. Rip Myers Glamping? This I had to see.
Rip
I PULLED INTO the driveway and put the truck in park. Chloe was sound asleep, making the cutest little breathing sounds out of her mouth. Reaching over, I gently squeezed her leg.
“Chloe Cat, we’re here.”
She opened her eyes and stretched. “Oh, man. I can’t believe I fell asleep.”
It had been an emotionally exhausting few days, and I was looking forward to spending the next two days alone with Chloe. Nothing but nature and the two of us.
Looking around, Chloe faced me. “Where are we?”
“It’s called Sinya. It’s an authentic safari tent that sits on top of a hill overlooking Lone Man Creek.”
“A safari tent! That sounds like fun!”
She had no idea.
“Come on, they’re expecting us.”
Chloe and I got out of the truck and made our way down a rock path.
A woman in her mid-to-late thirties came walking out to greet us. “Rip and Chloe, I take it.”
Holding out my hand to her, I nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Rip Myers, this is Chloe Parker.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Chloe said as her eyes took in the surrounding area.
“Pleasure is all mine. The name is Kim Evens. I’m the owner of Sinya, along with my husband, Ted. Everything you need, with the exception of food, is in your tent. There is a grocery store in Wimberley where you can find anything you need. The outdoor fire is already stocked with oak, and you’ve even got a s’mores kit if you’d like to use it. You will have complete privacy, so feel free to enjoy nature in its finest glory.”
Chloe’s cheeks turned pink.
“Are we celebrating anything?” Kim asked.
“Us,” I replied.
Kim smiled. “I like that answer. I like it a lot. Let’s get y’all all checked in, and I’ll give you the key and send you to the trees.”
Chloe looked at me, brow arched and a huge smile on her face.
Twenty minutes later we were walking up to the giant safari-style tent that was sitting on top of a wooden deck. You could walk completely around the tent on the deck and the views were out-of-this-world beautiful.
“Rip,” Chloe gasped as we walked up the steps and looked down at a waterfall. Birds sang, water rushed over the rocks below, and a warm, soft breeze blew wisps of Chloe’s hair around. It was June and the temperatures were starting to climb higher and higher, but the weather for the weekend called for mild to warm temperatures. I looked at Chloe. She looked beautiful. Her blue eyes almost giving the sky a run for its money.
“There are five outdoor spots for us to use.”
“Five?” Chloe repeated, a slight giggle in her voice. “I don’t think I want to leave this deck.”
“Let’s go inside.”
I placed my hand on her lower back and guided her to the door. The tent was exactly that. A tent. With high-quality plastic windows that went all the way around, and canvas, lots of canvas.
The tent consisted of two giant rooms. The first was the living room, small kitchen, and bedroom. A sofa sat outside overlooking the amazing view.
Chloe looked down at the wood floors and then back up to me. “This stain…couldn’t you see it in the farmhouse?”
My heart did a weird little jump because she was thinking about the farmhouse. And even more so, since she hadn’t called it my farmhouse.
“I can. I’ll ask them what the stain color is.”
Dropping my hand, Chloe walked into the bedroom area.
“Rip! Oh, my goodness, look at this bed. I feel like we’re at a five-star hotel!”
“Well, it did say upscale camping.”
Spinning around to face me, she giggled. “This is not camping, Rip Myers.”
I lifted a brow and walked over to her. “Do you really think the first time I made love to you was going to be in a tent, on the ground, with people only feet away at the next campsite?”
Her eyes sparkled. “You’re buying a house, this must have cost a fortune.”
I shrugged. “Your happiness is priceless to me, Chloe.”
She lifted on her toes and kissed me. “I love you.”
“Love you more.”
Chloe pulled away and walked over to a sliding glass door. It led out to the veranda that also contained a hammock.
“I hope this faces west so
we can watch the sunset,” Chloe stated.
“Me too.”
Like a flash, she was past me and walking into the bathroom. “Rip! Rip, come look at this claw-foot tub!”
Smiling, I walked into the bathroom.
“Oh, I love this so much.”
I leaned against the door frame. “Big enough for two, and if it wasn’t, there is a hot tub outside.”
Her eyes widened in delight before she headed out onto the veranda. “No way!”
Not only was there a hot tub, but an outdoor shower, as well.
We walked onto the deck that held the outdoor bathroom, and my eyes caught the shower. I wanted to do naughty things to Chloe out here under the stars. Very. Naughty. Things.
“You look like you’re thinking about something happy,” Chloe said, placing her hand on the side of my face. Her thumb brushed over my unshaven jaw.
“Oh, trust me. What I’m thinking about makes me very happy.”
Her teeth dug into her lip, and she blushed.
“I bet it’s along the same lines as what I was thinking.”
Closing my eyes, I moaned before looking down at her. “I sure as hell hope so.”
Chloe smiled, and it seemed to even make the summer day brighter, if that was at all possible. “Rip, I never imagined a place like this. It’s beautiful.”
“Mike told me about it. A friend he knew from college brought his girlfriend here and asked her to marry him. I told him I needed a romantic place for our first time, he told me about this place. He’s wanted to bring Alyssa here, but it’s always booked.”
“How in the world were you able to book it last minute?”
Running my fingers through my hair, I chuckled. “Pure freaking luck. I called to see if they had a list you could be put on for cancellations. Kim told me they had someone call up last minute and cancel. For tonight and tomorrow night. So that’s why this went from an afternoon picnic to an overnight camping trip.”
“You’re kidding!”
“No!” I replied. “So, I booked it, and here we are.”
Her tongue swept over her lips. “It’s perfect, Rip.”
“I thought so, too.”
And it was perfect. I had dreamed about the day I would finally get to make love to Chloe Parker. And doing that among the trees, with nature singing us a love song, was the perfect way to make that dream come true.
Rip
GIVING CHLOE A wink, I said, “Let’s bring in our bags then make a list of what we want from the store. Once we come back, I don’t plan on leaving until we check out.”
“Agreed!”
An hour later, we had our stock of provisions put away and Chloe was changing into shorts and a T-shirt to walk down to the water.
“It’s a bit of a hike, so make sure you wear your sneakers. I’ve got a couple of towels.”
When she walked out of the bathroom in cut-off jean shorts and a Texas A&M T-shirt that I was positive used to be mine, I felt my entire body warm.
“Ready!”
I couldn’t help but wonder if she had worn my T-shirts when she was with that douchebag Easton. A part of me hoped she had. No wonder the jerk didn’t like me.
I smiled internally.
Chloe talked the entire way down the trail about the farmhouse. “I know I saw at least one claw-foot bathtub in the house. Do you think we can get it restored?”
I fucking loved that she said we.
“Yes, I’m positive we can.”
She smiled, and we walked the rest of the way in silence. Chloe’s eyes were everywhere. Taking in the beautiful countryside. The sounds the birds were making, the rays of sun dancing through the trees. All of it was stunning. Nothing compared to her beauty, though. Nothing.
Once we came to the river, she stripped out of her T-shirt and jeans and stood before me in a bikini. For once in my life, I took in every inch of that body and let her see me doing it.
“You’re looking at me like you’re hungry for something,” Chloe purred.
“Chloe, you have no fucking idea. Eighteen years of pent-up energy here, darlin’.”
She smiled and walked into the water, glancing over her shoulder and using her finger to motion for me to join her. I had never pulled a shirt over my head so fast.
With a laugh that sent shivers across my body, Chloe dropped into the water.
“It’s cold!” she cried out as I joined her in the very chilly water.
Pulling her to me, she wrapped her legs around me and pressed her mouth to mine. It was heaven. Pure fucking heaven having my mouth on hers. Even with the countless times I had dreamed of kissing her, nothing could compare to the real thing. I knew I would never tire of it. It would be something I longed to do every single day for the rest of our lives.
“Rip,” she whispered against my mouth when we stopped to catch our breath. Every part of me wanted her. Right there in that river. She pressed her center into me, and I moaned in pleasure.
Ripping my mouth free again, I looked into those sky-blue eyes of hers. “I want you so much, baby, but not here.”
Her legs wrapped tighter. When she dug her fingers into my hair and pulled, I felt my resolve slipping. There was no way our first time was going to be in the damn river.
I’ll save that for tomorrow.
Just as soon as she embraced me, though, she quickly pushed away and attempted to dunk me under the water. I let her, making her think she got the best of me. When I pulled her under with me, she came up coughing and laughing.
“Not fair! You’re stronger, and I got water up my nose!”
“You pushed me under the water! Did you really think I wouldn’t take you down with me?”
She laughed, and I felt my heartbeat pick up faster. The way this woman made me feel was unlike anything I had ever experienced before in my life. She was my everything. Always had been. Always would be.
We swam to a rock, and I climbed on first and then helped her up. Chloe tucked her body between my legs and ran her fingers up and down my skin. We sat in silence, taking in the beauty of the place. This felt so right. Not just that I was with Chloe, but the location itself. It felt so…calming. I should be nervous as hell. Soon I was going to be making love to the woman of my dreams, and I felt like it was my first time. I had to laugh inside at that one. It wasn’t like I had been a manwhore. Hardly. I hadn’t lied to Chloe. I had only ever been with a few girls. The girl I lost my virginity to, Heather, actually knew how I felt about Chloe. We both knew our time together was for fun, that it would never lead to anything serious. But she had taught me so much about not only my body, but a woman’s body. What to do to make a girl feel good. To always put the woman first. I was so awkward the first time, and she knew from the get go I was a virgin. I hadn’t actually told her, but she knew.
After Heather, I slept with two other women. Nothing serious. Mostly friends with benefits. Something to take my mind off of Chloe. It never worked, and I was an asshole to think that sleeping with another woman would ever make me forget about Chloe.
I had already learned from Mike—who told me everything Alyssa told him—that Chloe had only had two sexual partners. I felt bad for knowing, but like Chloe had said, the past was in the past. It was time to move forward.
“It’s so quiet here.”
Laughing, I replied, “What is your idea of quiet? I hear water, birds, and I’m pretty sure that is a cow in the distance.”
She dropped her head against my chest and looked up at me. “That’s what I mean. It’s not College Station…or Houston. It’s like home. The only things you can hear are nature. I love that so much.”
I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “You’re getting goosebumps. Want to head back up?”
Spinning around, Chloe faced me. Her eyes burned with desire, causing my body to heat in an instant. I no longer noticed the cold water.
“I want you, Rip. I honestly don’t think I can wait another minute.”
“Me either. Let’s go.”
We swam back to the shore and slowly walked out of the water. I wrapped a towel around Chloe, then quickly dried myself off and slipped my T-shirt back on. Chloe put on her sneakers, sans socks, and started up the pathway that led to the tent. As we walked up each step, my heart pounded harder and harder.
The sun wouldn’t be setting for another hour or so, but it was sinking far enough that I could still turn on all the candles Lisa had placed out on the veranda. It would give the romantic feel I was hoping for when the moment struck.
Instead of going into the tent, Chloe made her way to the outdoor shower. I could feel my pulse everywhere in my body, not just my chest. I was positive that if she spoke I wouldn’t be able to hear her through the roar in my ears.
Turning to face me, Chloe tossed her shorts and T-shirt to the side, then dropped the towel. My eyes roamed over her body. She was perfect in every single way. When she turned on the water, I kept my gaze on hers. Then she reached behind her back, and before I knew it, her top was on the floor at her feet. My knees wobbled, and I had to remind myself to breathe.
“Chloe,” I warned.
She gave me a saucy grin and tilted her head as she slowly pushed her bottoms down.
Standing before me naked, she took a few steps back into the shower. I yanked my wet T-shirt over my head. She watched every single move I made. She was chewing on her lip, waiting for me to drop my drawers and show her how much I wanted her.
I gave her what she wanted. She gasped as her eyes locked onto my cock. I would have given a thousand dollars to know what that pretty little mind was thinking.
When I started toward her, her gaze swung up and met mine. I joined her under the showerhead, cupping her face in my hands and kissing her.
“You are mine,” I spoke against her lips.
She whimpered her reply. “Yes. Always.”
“Forever, Chloe. Mine.”
My hand moved down to her heavy breast, loving the way it fit into my hand so perfectly. I rolled her nipple with my finger and thumb, causing her to suck in a breath.
Love at First Sight Page 17